The smith deal was done before drinkwater got there
Smith to Catalan was hot news about 3-4 months back

I don't think anyone expected drinkwater to do quite so well as he has

If I were the Catalans GM, I'd be looking for a way out of the Smith signing - he's never been more than average, and by now, his day is done; Drinkwater has been a big part of why they've kicked on so well in the latter half of the season.

Regards Hampshire - I'm with Vasty and others who've said stick, but not if that involves pandering to ridiculous valuations; at 25, he's had more clubs than Tiger Woods, and failed to properly establish himself at any of them - here, he's getting regular starts at 7 and improving week on week. If he sticks with that, his stock will rise considerably over the next couple of years, then he can perhaps go to the market with higher expectations - and a significantly improved outlook on his career in the longer term.

A lot of what you say is correect bren, but lets get it right the kids 23 not 25 thats two more years to develop, and if i couldnt make summat of a kid with pace ,football brain,and a kicking game that can be improved on and whos got plenty of bottle then my estimation of chester has gone down ,and mr carters ambitions seem fickle to me

A lot of what you say is correect bren, but lets get it right the kids 23 not 25 thats two more years to develop, and if i couldnt make summat of a kid with pace ,football brain,and a kicking game that can be improved on and whos got plenty of bottle then my estimation of chester has gone down ,and mr carters ambitions seem fickle to me

I think Chester will make something of him

..... But doesn't your assessment apply to Wane and Powell as well?

Well seeing as none of us know the offer unless you do, well then?
The only fickle person is you.

Ryan doesn’t hold the whip hand and if he and his advisors think he does then that explains a lot.

He and I suspect you are at a cross roads here. If he was all you say and frankly he isn’t then every club in SL would be on him. Clearly they are not else we simply wouldn’t be having this debate. He needs to chose and chose wisely because he’s one duff move away from being a footnote or worse playing for the Wolfpack.

It’s not CC or MC lacking anything, they know there job and there job is to take care of the club and it’s others players remember them.

If we can keep Tom Johnstone happy and he’s far more of desirable commodity than Ryan at the moment then what does that tell you. It tells me that the rest of the team and the club know each other’s worth - why would anybody want to rock that boat for a player who didn’t give Trinity a second glance as a junior.

It’s a two way street and we owe Ryan absolutely nothing - he’s not a wakefield product he’s another player who didn’t make it at Wigan - think about it.

Apparently they have been trying everything to get Smith out the door before he has even walked through it, but they have failed as there is not a club out there that will take on his massive contract.

Ryan is the same age as Broughy was when he joined us, and we signed him from a championship club. Although he was a decent enough player before then, and should have won the Lance Todd in the 2005 final, it was with us that he really shone, and thereafter was always heading for bigger things (but chose Huddersfield - go figure!). This is Ryan's time. Whatever decision he makes now might make or break his career.


Although not a Wakefield product, he's a Wakefield lad and a supporter, and you'll always get that passion, which players from elsewhere might not bring.


Having said that, we've all seen how the club and team is being run, with us being the most financially stable and well-run in decades, and the team consistently finishing well and higher than we deserve to be, given our playing budget. On that basis, I trust those in charge to make the right decision for the club, and Ryan will make the right choice for Ryan, and that's how it should be.

Ryan is on public duties with the club tomorrow with MC & CC. Doesn't tend to lend to the idea they're a million miles away.

Which event is this?

wrenthorpe club - fundraiser for the Outwood School RL team trip to Australia. Q&A session, raffle etc think its £15

Was just asking as I was going to go but event has been postponed due to insufficient interest.

If youd have read my early post on thi thread vastman youd have seen that i didnt know what hampshire had been offered all i had said that an offer befitting a young player with potential should have been made i understand your remark that chester and carter want the best for our club but are they right they wont be the first to make a mistake but we dont know do we until someone officially says exactly what hes been offered , as i said earlier if ryan or is agent are asking ridiculous money then they are being foolish ,i dont know you from adam old lad but i do know that you cant lecture me on ins and outs of rugby league and how things go on between clubs and young players

I don't know what Wigan was paying him tbh chissitt, I've just seen over the past couple of years what Leigh fans have said he was on there and a few have mentioned it on here as well. The thing about Leigh is how true is it that he was on around £100k that's been banded around a lot is another thing. You are probably placed better than most to know than myself & others are. If that figure's even remotely close though at Leigh and you're saying he got that plus what he's on currently at Trin, then he's obviously had a big come down in wages through his shortish career so far.
I just hope he's happy with what Trinity think he's worth and can settle here and develop as a player because ateotd I think that's what everyone wants. Especially as he himself has been wanting nail a halfback place since he turned pro and at Trinity he's going to get that chance here, where other supposed better & more experienced coaches haven't seen him as that previously.

Hampshire said he was on a third of what he was on at Leigh and to me, that's pretty easy to work out.
So is he worth double after being on a lower contract this year?
This is why it's important to try and get 5th place, that 'extra' money comes in handy to a club like ours and ensures that we can still keep progressing.